Cholula is the largest Pyramid in the

world (by volume)

(Mexico)

Starter
The Louvre is an Art museum in Paris, part of
which is in the shape of a Pyramid. The Pyramid
is 20.6m high and has a Square base of side
35m. Calculate the amount of litres of air the
Pyramid would contain.
1 Litre = 1000cm3
Volume of a Pyramid = 1/3 x base x height

35m = 3500cm
20.6m = 2060cm
Volume = 1/3 x base x height
Volume = 1/3 x (3500 x 3500) x 2060
Volume = 8,411,666,667cm3
Litres = 8,411,666.667

1000

Change the units first!

Frustums
A Frustum is effectively a Cone or
Pyramid with a smaller Pyramid or Cone
cut off

Frustums
We have looked at the Volume of a number of 3D solids
Today we will be looking at calculating the Volume of a Frustum
Learning Objectives
All will be able to calculate the Volume of Pyramids and
(Grade B/A)

Cones

Most will be able to for equations to calculate the missing length

required for the Volume of a Frustum (Grade A/A*)
Some will be able to calculate the Volume of a Frustum
start to finish (Grade A*)

from

Frustums
To calculate the Volume of a Frustum, you must
consider the Full Cone, as well as the smaller
one which has been removed.

xcm
4cm

You will need to work out the missing height,

which is part of the full cone.

5cm
6cm

The RATIO of the height to the base will be

the same for both cones as they are similar.

x
4

x+5
6

6x =
24

4x + 20
24

6x =

4x + 20

2x =

20

10

Multiply all of left fraction

by 6 and all of right fraction
by 4 (remember this doesnt
change their actual values)
Multiply both
sides by 24
Subtract 4x
Divide by 2

Small Cone
(Height divided
by base radius)

Big Cone
(Height divided
by base radius)

x
4

x+5
6

Frustums
To calculate the Volume of a Frustum, you must
consider the Full Cone, as well as the smaller
one which has been removed.

xcm
10cm
4cm

Volume of a Pyramid/Cone = 1/3 x base x height

6cm

Big Cone

Vb = 1/3 x x 62 x 15
Vb = 180
Small Cone

Vs = 1/3 x x 42 x 10
Vs =

160

5cm

/3

Big Cone Small Cone

Vf = 180 - 160/3
Vf = 397.94 cm3

Frustums
To calculate the Volume of a Frustum, you must
consider the Full Cone, as well as the smaller
one which has been removed.

xcm
5cm

You will need to work out the missing height,

which is part of the full cone.

9cm
8cm

The RATIO of the height to the base will be

the same for both cones as they are similar.

x
5

x+9
8

8x =
40

5x + 45
40

8x =

5x + 45

3x =

45

15

Small Cone
Multiply all of left fraction by
8 and all of right fraction by 5 (Height divided
(remember this doesnt change by base radius)
their actual values)
Multiply by 40
Subtract 5x
Divide by 3

x
5

Big Cone
(Height divided
by base radius)

x+9
8

Frustums
To calculate the Volume of a Frustum, you must
consider the Full Cone, as well as the smaller
one which has been removed.

xcm
15cm
5cm

Volume of a Pyramid/Cone = 1/3 x base x height

8cm

Big Cone

Vb = 1/3 x x 82 x 22
Vb =

1408

/3

Small Cone

Vs = 1/3 x x 52 x 15
Vs = 125
Big Cone Small Cone

Vf =

7cm

/3 - 125

1408

Vf = 1081.76 cm3

Plenary
To the right is a picture of The
Temple of Kukulcn, in Mexico. By
modelling it as a Frustum of a
Square-based Pyramid, estimate its
Volume. (Ignore the top bit!)
x
=
19.52

x + 24
55.3

55.3x = 19.52x + 468.48

1079.456
1079.456
55.3x
35.78x
x

= 19.52x + 468.48
= 468.48
= 13.09

x
19.52m
24m

Make
Fractions
Equivalent
Remove the
Fraction
Subtract
19.52x
Divide by
35.78

55.3m

Small Pyramid
(Height divided
by base width)

x
19.52

Big Pyramid
(Height divided
by base width)

x + 24
55.3

19.52 x 55.3 = 1079.456

Plenary
To the right is a picture of The
Temple of Kukulcn, in Mexico. By
modelling it as a Frustum of a
Square-based Pyramid, estimate its
Volume. (Ignore the top bit!)

19.52m

24m

Vb = 1/3 x 55.32 x 37.09

Vb = 37,811.599 m3
Vs = 1/3 x 19.522 x 13.09
Vs = 1,662.988 m3
Vf = 37811.599 1662.988
Vf = 36,148.61 m3

13m

55.3m

Summary
Today we have seen how to calculate the
Volume of a Frustum
This involved the fact that a Frustum is made
by removing a smaller cone/pyramid from a
bigger one, and that both are similar shapes
This also recapped your knowledge of
equations containing fractions